These writings will record our adoption journey to China to meet our daughter. We will post our thoughts and adventures so that she will have this record of her parent's experiences. It's all about Isabel!!!!

Weather in Victoria

Weather in Nanchang

Weather in Beijing

Friday, January 30, 2009

Ten years ago today, we were married in a beautiful garden with all of our family and friends around us. Last night, we reminisced over photos with our friends and today is just for us!! It has been an incredibly exciting and emotional week. The last time other than twice this week, that Shawn was really choked up with happiness was AT our wedding. He loves his girls sooooo much!!! We can't wait to be parents to our darling girl and the icing on the cake is spending the day alone with my sweet, kind, talented and wonderfully grumpy husband.

Oh and we are overwhelmed with all of the kind wishes that we have received. EVERYONE has been so kind and supportive - this is one TERRIFIC community and we can't wait to share our journey with everyone!!!!!

Monday, January 26, 2009

I can't seem to upload her pictures here because they are scanned and in Adobe. But she is JUST the cutest thing EVER!!!!! When I have the original photos back from the international doctor, I will post. Her name is Isabel Minyun or as Shawn is calling her "mini-mouse" (born in the year of the mouse!! March 27th, 2008!!). She is from Jiangxi province and has been in foster care since she was found.We are over the moon. I know that you are not supposed to fall in love with a photo but man, it is hard not to, even for Shawn!!!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Our agency has no idea when our referral will arrive. We are still waiting and it is frustrating, really really frustrating but what can you do.It is now the weekend so we won't hear anything until next week. Key the sad string section and weepy violins here...

Happy Spring Festival everyone!!!! We are having our Chinese food tonight from our favorite place which is just around the corner.Oh and for all of our Scottish friends, I just hosted a Burns Supper but alas, being celiac I couldn't partake in the scotch and I WON'T eat Haggis!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Robbie Burns day to you all!!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

"Of all the soft, delicious functions of nature this is the chiefest; what a happiness it is to man, when the anxieties and passions of the day are over."-Laurence Sterne (1713-1768) My message from my Daily Wisdom today.

Then why can't I do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I toss and turn and dream all night long. I dreamt of my kitty Rhiannon last night and all of her snuggles - it was wonderful but it just reminded me of how much I miss her. Oh well. Sad with the sweet...

I know that the main reason we/I can't sleep (as Shawn is doing the same thing) is that we will be seeing the photo of our child in the next week. The RQ has reported that packages are in the air!!!! For us it means that it has to go through the Ministry and then to our two agencies which do the translating and then presenting. I have been ASSURED that they don't "sit on" the proposals because they are a priority!! Thank goodness but at least after 4 years in the process I have WAY more information and know who to bug the hell out of to make sure that things don't "sit" like our dossier did.

So we are sitting tight, buckling up our seat belts and reading ourselves for take off!!!!! I think we are in for a bumpy ride!!!

Oh and Colleen, thanks for a fabulous weekend and Isabel's dolly. I can't get over her face. She is sitting in a green chair by the fireplace waiting as we all are... Shawn says that he was just joking about the purple hair, he thinks that we will have loads of fun colouring Isabel's hair!!!!!! Too funny!!!